A plurality of cameras is secured to railroad ties to take high resolution images of the underside of a train car as it passes over this plurality of cameras. These images are important to insure the structural integrity of the parts of the rail car as well as the connection means—a coupler and pin—between two rail cars. The shutter speed of the cameras is determined by the speed of the train as it passes over the cameras. As the images are taken, the images can be downloaded and sent to a remote location for further analysis.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

A system and method for inspecting a railway track using sensors oriented at an oblique angle relative to a rail vehicle on which the system is traveling. The orientation of the sensors allows for different data to be gathered regarding a particular rail including rail design specifications (gathered based on manufacturer markings detected and analyzed by the system), rail seat abrasion values based on direct measurement of rails from the oblique angle, and other analysis of rail features including joint bars, rail welds, bond wires, rail holes, and broken rails. The use of an air blower, ducts, and one or more air distribution lids over the sensors helps remove debris from blocking the sensors and structured light generators.

A method for operating a video monitoring system for a rail vehicle includes determining a topology of a signaling network assigned to the video monitoring system, and identifying nodes signal-coupled to the network. At least one video camera and at least one video recorder are nodes of the network. A signal path for the at least one video camera of the network is determined on the basis of the determined topology of the network. The signal path represents a signal arbitration or signaling-related assignment of the at least one video camera. The at least one video camera is automatically assigned to the at least one video recorder on the basis of the determined signal path. A device for operating a video monitoring system for a rail vehicle and a rail vehicle are also provided.

A method for operating a video monitoring system for a rail vehicle includes determining a topology of a signaling network assigned to the video monitoring system, and identifying nodes signal-coupled to the network. At least one video camera and at least one video recorder are nodes of the network. A signal path for the at least one video camera of the network is determined on the basis of the determined topology of the network. The signal path represents a signal arbitration or signaling-related assignment of the at least one video camera. The at least one video camera is automatically assigned to the at least one video recorder on the basis of the determined signal path. A device for operating a video monitoring system for a rail vehicle and a rail vehicle are also provided.

The invention provides a signal redundancy control system. The system includes multiple first signal collecting devices, second signal collecting devices and a controller, wherein the multiple first signal collecting devices are configured to collect the dynamic information of default devices where the first signal collecting devices are located in real time; one second signal collecting device corresponding to each of the first signal collecting devices is disposed on each default device, and is configured to collect the dynamic information of the default device where the second signal collecting device is located in real time; the controller is configured to determine whether the first signal collecting devices include fault information or not, and positions each default device according to the dynamic information acquired by the first signal collecting devices or the second signal collecting devices.

A radar monitoring system and a radar monitoring method for monitoring a traffic control zone involve installing two radars near the traffic control zone so that the radars emit radar waves covering the traffic control zone and serve as backups for each other; locating any object in the traffic control zone as a coordinate point with respect to a set of X and Y coordinate axes, and subjecting the X and Y coordinate axes of the two radars to axial normalization, so that an identical object in the traffic control zone is located by the first radar and the second radar at approximately the same coordinate point. An alert area is defined in the traffic control zone and an excluded area around a resident facility in the traffic control zone is excluded from the alert area. When an object in the alert area is determined as an obstacle, an alert is triggered.

A track switching arrangement for a track-based guided transportation system, wherein the track switching arrangement forms diverging pathways and enables vehicle-side switching of a vehicle in the guided transportation system. The track switching arrangement includes an upstream pathway; two downstream pathways; and a path switching transition region having the diverging pathways between the upstream pathway and the two downstream pathways. Each of the pathways includes track elements configured to interact with one or more respective bearings of the vehicle to provide levitation to the vehicle and/or guidance for the vehicle.

An automated warning time inspection system (5) and method to test a warning time (45) at a railroad grade crossing (25) on each route for a train (30). The automated warning time inspection system (5) comprises a track circuit (12) configured to activate when a train (30) enters the track circuit (12), an event recorder (17) configured to record a first log time (35(1)) for activation of a crossing warning system (15), a camera (20) to detect a first motion detection indication (40(1)) in a motion detection zone (10) of the camera (20) if there is any motion and an island circuit (22) to detect a presence of the train (30) as the train (30) enters an island (42). The event recorder (17) to record a third log time (35(3)) for switch position indications when present. The event recorder (17) to record a fourth log time (35(4)) for activation of the island circuit (22). The camera (20) to detect a second motion detection indication (40(2)) in the motion detection zone (10) of the camera (20) after the activation of the island circuit (22) if there is any motion. The event recorder (17) to calculate and record a warning time (45) as a difference between the first log time (35(1) and the third log time (35(3)) and based on a motion detection before or after the activation of the island circuit (22) and whether the warning time (45) was more than or equal to a threshold time (50) and whether the train (30) was travelling more than or equal to a threshold speed (52) a passing or a failing of the warning time (45) inspection is logged into the event recorder (17) in a given route (55) of the train (30) travelling on the train track (7).

Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for controlling remote equipment in a network. A switch heater control system includes a weather modeling function. The system periodically obtains weather data according to a predetermined time interval. Based on the closest weather data set, the weather modeling function generates a hyperlocal forecast associated with each switch heater location. The system includes an active snowfall mode and a maintenance mode that controls heating based on an estimate of local snow depth, adjusted for wind conditions and passing trains. When the hyperlocal forecast indicates heating is required, the system calculates a melt duration, starts a timer, and transmits a start signal to the switch heater.